Representation

Who are we representing?

We are representing small indie and alternative bands that are being held down by the record companies and illegal downloads. These bands are being held down in the sense that they are unable to grow and make money, because the record companies take a large slice of the money the make, and illegal downloads mean that people are getting their music for free and thus, making no money for the band from these downloads. This means that the band is unable to promote themselves or go on tour as they lack the funds to do so. This is how the bands are being held down.

Our video shows this by having the band in a cellar underground. This cellar is shown to be underneath the church (a large establishment) and this represents another large establishment – the record company – holding the band underground and not allowing them to grow and make money.

A few things we aim to include in our video that also enforce this message are done so through semiotics and mise-en-scene. A recurring metaphoric device throughout our video is the use of fog/smoke, as this represents the release of our message as the amount of fog will gradually increase and a long shot will be included of fog escaping through a grate in the cellar (message being sent). However also more literally, it can depict the smokescreen music corporations use to mask the fact they are keeping smaller, indie and alternative acts down.

In the Snoop Dogg ft. Pharell Williams ‘Drop it like it hot’ the stereotypical conventions of black culture are informed and contested. The gender roles of stereotypical black rap music are that women are objects used for sexual purposes only this is shown through quick editing only keeping women in show for seconds while they’re dancing sexily. Suggesting they are only useful to men as things to look at. Also they are often laden in diamonds and jewellery – typical gangster accessories, portraying that women are just accessories also. The only race present is black afro-Caribbean this is enforced before we even see any characters with the way a black silhouette of Snoop Dogg onto a white canvas. The distinct portrayal of race and white canvas background runs throughout the video portraying his superiority over white culture and law and order as many taboo things are present in the video (gambling, prostitution, and graffiti) The illegality of the depicted lifestyle is also portrayed through lyrics such as ‘When the pimps in the crib, drop it like it’s hot’ this could refer to prostitution or gambling both associated with black gangster culture. This could show how Snoop Dogg is a ‘pimp’ or gangster which is also enforced by the gang signs and gestures made to the camera by Pharell Williams and Snoop Dogg.

Posted by MaD